Nose
It is a fullbodied Chardonnay with delicate floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle
with a touch of petrichor, that amazingly pleasant aroma after fresh rain.
Palate
Mid-palate there is a creaminess, an oily viscosity, that is dramatically
appealing. Layers of complex flavors include toasted cashew, macadamia,
cling peach, rosemary, marzipan, and sliced green apples. The oak is
seamlessly integrated into the wine’s finish. We noted a second level of
flavors that appeared at the tip of the wine’s end that beckoned us to try it
again.
Growing Conditions
Dutton Ranch farms more than 80 separate vineyards in the Russian River
Valley. Planted in 1991 to the Wente clone, Dutton Palms Vineyard is east
facing and lies within the coolest part of the Green Valley. The hills and
valley floor of the vineyard consist of the traditional sandy loam Goldridge
soil that is most prominent in the Green Valley and Russian River
appellations. Joe and Tracy’s home vineyard at Dutton Palms, highlights
orange and citrus flavors and is extremely lush on the palate with a creamy
texture. It is a certified Sonoma County Sustainably-Farmed and FishFriendly
vineyard.
Bottling
Bottled: August 2017.
Winemaking
Like all of the fruit we farm, this was harvested by hand at night. At the
winery, the fruit was gently hand-sorted and then whole cluster pressed.
The juice was racked with solids into oak barrels. Individual lots are barrel
fermented using selected yeasts. Undergoing natural malolactic
fermentation, the lees are stirred twice monthly until the secondary
fermentation is complete. The Chardonnay is aged in a mix of new, 1-year
old, and neutral French oak barrels emphasizing the fruit and vineyard
characteristics of the wine. After purposefully selecting each barrel for this
vineyard designate, the final blend is given time to marry and settle prior to
bottling.
Aging
10 months in Francois Frères French oak, 85% new.
Appearance
With a medium yellow, gold hue, this wine has excellent clarity.
